Learn to Leave no trace

Wilderness Travelers enjoying a snow table Photo Credit: Jane Simpson

Among the many benefits you get from taking the Angeles Chapter's Wilderness Travel Course (WTC), two things stand out. One is meeting people with similar interests. The other is gaining a greater appreciation for the wilderness as you learn how to travel safely and wisely. Edward Abbey expressed it well, The idea of wilderness needs no defense. It only needs more defenders.

One of the most important skills students learn in WTC, along with safety, is how to travel responsibly in the wilderness using the principles of Leave No Trace (LNT).

LNT has an over 40-year history, but it is mainly over the last 10-15 years that it has become an essential part of any outdoors curriculum, providing ethical minimal-impact guidance for thousands of outdoors programs and millions of individuals worldwide.

For 20 years, WTC's knowledgeable volunteer staff has been teaching topics such as clothing, equipment, navigation with map and compass, safety and first aid, conditioning, rock and snow travel, techniques, food, and trip planning,. The course is offered once each year, in four Southern California areas, beginning in January, and runs for 10 weeks, including one night per week in classrooms, plus four weekend outings, two of which are overnight trips.

All of WTC's class work and outings integrate the seven principles of LNT described below. For the complete text of the seven principles, visit www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php. We take these principles seriously, but that doesn't mean we can't have any fun.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare: There's probably an app for that, but we'll show you tried and true ways to plan a trip, with or without the Internet or smart phones. Planning ahead includes preparing and carrying your Ten Essentials (the list of items you should always carry with you on outings). It does no good to prepare them and then leave them at home. And, don't forget to leave your itinerary with someone not on the same outing.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Technically, this includes asphalt and concrete, but that's not what we mean. We teach you how to travel far, far away from pavement of any kind, except maybe desert pavement (which is NOT a durable surface and shouldn't be stepped on). For WTC's grand finale snow camp, we set up tents on another durable surface - snow. You'll learn to build things like snow tables and igloos (Snowmen are optional; snowballs are probable.), then break them down so the next snowfall hides all traces. You wouldn't want to leave behind a pit trap for an unsuspecting human or animal wilderness traveler who might pass the same way. Well, maybe you would, but you can't!
3. Dispose of Waste Properly Does a hiker poop in the woods? If she spends enough time there she does. Most of what you need to know about it you can learn from your cat, and the course will cover, er, explain the rest. However, if you give each member of your family a personalized bright orange plastic trowel with a 6in line engraved across it for a holiday gift, you've probably carried this idea a bit too far.
4. Leave What You Find...unless it's trash. Earn good karma points by packing out extra garbage (as long as it's sanitary to do so). Many find peace of mind in the wilderness. That, you can take home.
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts Save the roaring campfire and toasting s'mores for car camping trips to campgrounds with fire rings. Most backcountry fires are illegal, and should be kept small even where they are legal. As part of planning ahead, always check with the rangers before the trip to find out about fire rules.
6. Respect Wildlife including your instructors and fellow students. Should you spot any wild creatures in the backcountry, maintain a respectful distance, but there's no need to bow or remove your hat. And, if you must take a picture of wildlife, turn off that flash.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors When we say let nature's sounds prevail, this doesn't include over-amped iPods® or cell phone conversations. Chapter policy does allow such gadgets on outings, but save them for breaks and in camp, and always follow the outing leader's rules. We'll accept the beeps from your digital camera.

Learn more about Leave No Trace® at www.lnt.org. Learn more about-and register for-Wilderness Travel Course at www.WildernessTravelCourse.org